Telegraph Canyon Road

Telegraph Canyon Road is a scenic day ride weaving through the rugged beauty of Arizona's Mineral Mountain Mining District. Starting near the historic town of Superior, the trail meanders southwest, offering breathtaking views of iconic landmarks like Picketpost Mountain, Weaver’s Needle, Apache Leap, and the Superstition Wilderness. It intersects with the famed Arizona Trail before concluding at the intriguing Ajax Mine, a site steeped in history and frontier drama.

The Ajax Mine, established in 1915, was once rich in lead and zinc ore, estimated at 20,000 tons by its original operator, B.D. Johnson. Ownership disputes and legal battles defined its turbulent past, including a notorious eviction of the Wallace brothers in 1926. Despite being listed for sale in the 1940s, disagreements among heirs left it idle, with its asking price of $45,000 and unique no-down-payment terms never fulfilled. Visitors can explore its impressive remnants but should use extreme caution as you are likely to encounter open, vertical shafts.